Bale is the Real deal! Madrid move finally confirmed as Spanish giants announce £86m world-record signing of Spurs winger
- Madrid confirm Bale has joined - ending the big saga of the summer
- The fee is a world record £86m - beating the £80m Real paid for Ronaldo
- Wales winger Bale thanked Spurs for 'six very happy years' but admitted it was 'time to say goodbye'
- Spurs chairman Daniel Levy and boss Andre Villas-Boas wished Bale well
The Gareth Bale transfer saga was finally concluded on Sunday night when he moved to Real Madrid for a world-record £86million.
After negotiations that dragged on all summer, the Welshman has agreed a £256,000-a-week, six-year contract and will have a medical on Monday morning before being presented to the media.
In a move designed to keep Cristiano Ronaldo - signed for £80m in 2009 - happy at the Bernabeu, Real are claiming Bale's fee is £78m.
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He's here: Real Madrid's new recruit Gareth Bale poses with fans after arriving at Barajas Airport
On the move: Gareth Bale, out in London on Saturday, has finally completed his move to Real Madrid
Final shot: Bale is leaving Tottenham after featuring in just one pre-season friendly this campaign
NICE LITTLE EARNER
Gareth Bale has more than trebled his salary by agreeing an incredible deal worth £256,000 a week with Real Madrid.
That works out at:
£13.312million a year
£36,471 a day
£1,520 an hour
£25.33 a minute
£13.312million a year
£36,471 a day
£1,520 an hour
£25.33 a minute
Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas disclosed a deal had been reached minutes after seeing his side slip to a disappointing 1-0 Barclays Premier League defeat at bitter rivals Arsenal.
Bale, who arrived in Madrid late on Sunday night, said: 'I would like to thank everyone at the club, the chairman, board, staff, coaches and players - and most of all the fantastic fans who I hope will understand this amazing career opportunity.
'I am not sure there is ever a good time to leave a club where I felt settled and was playing the best football of my career to date. I know many players talk of their desire to join the club of their boyhood dreams but I can honestly say this is my dream come true.
'I would not be at the level I am today were it not for Southampton and then Spurs standing by me during some of the tougher times. Tottenham will always be in my heart and I'm sure this will be a successful season for them. I am now looking forward to the next exciting chapter in my life.'
Jumping for joy: Bale left White Hart Lane after scoring 55 goals in 203 matches for Spurs
He added on the club website: ''I have had six very happy years at Tottenham but it's the right time to say goodbye. We've had some special times together over the years and I've loved every minute of it.
'I would like to thank everyone at the club, the chairman, board, staff, coaches and players – and most of all the fantastic fans who I hope will understand this amazing career opportunity.'
Bale has been omitted from Andre Villas-Boas's squad this season after signalling his intent to join Real Madrid and after weeks of negotiations, the Spanish giants confirmed they have got their man.
Real erected a stage on the pitch ahead of the transfer last week, hoping to announce the star's arrival, but were made to wait as Spurs chairman Daniel Levy played hardball. Bale will be unveiled at midday UK time.
End of an era: Bale, who won the Player and Young Player of the Year last term, will leave Tottenham
Star man: But Andre Villas-Boas conceded defeat in his bid to keep Bale at White Hart Lane
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, known as one of the toughest negotiators in the game, was reluctant to lose his star man and played hardball right until the end.
But he sent bale on his way with his best wishes.
Levy said: 'We had no intention of selling Gareth. But such has been the attention from Real Madrid and so great is Gareth's desire to join them, that we have taken the view that the player will not be sufficiently committed to our campaign in the current season.
'We have, therefore, with great reluctance, agreed to this sale and do so in the knowledge that we have an exceptionally strong squad to which we have added no fewer than seven top internationals. More importantly, we have an immense team spirit and a dressing room that is hungry for success.
Waiting in the wings: Bale hasn't featured for Tottenham this season after signalling his desire to leave
Making the leap: Bale turned out sporadically for Spurs in pre-season because of injury
'We wish Gareth all the best in the future and he shall always be welcome at the Lane.'
Villas-Boas said: 'He is going to join Real Madrid so we wish him all the best. The player is an absolutely wonderful player.
'He has left us with some great memories from last season which every Tottenham fan cherishes, but he has moved on and we will move on as well.'
Bale joins a long list of illustrious players to have made big-money moves to the Bernabeu. Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo have all been given the 'Galactico' moniker following their high-profile transfers to Real, but none of them have cost as much as Bale.
Big stage: Bale will join a host of world stars at Real Madrid, including Cristiano Ronaldo
All smiles: Bale will be managed by former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti, who took over at Madrid this summer
Tottenham and Real have clashed several times during the transfer saga, which has brought the two clubs' partnership agreement into question.
First, Tottenham were unhappy with how several Real Madrid players spoke publicly about the possibility of Bale moving to the Bernabeu.
Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Isco were just three of the squad members to talk about the prospect of Bale becoming the latest star arrival, and manager Carlo Ancelotti also spoke openly about the player, much to Tottenham's annoyance.
The Spanish club then angered Levy even further by selling Bale replica shirts on their website.
Bale is certain to get a rapturous welcome, although Real fans hardly need another hero.
Ronaldo made it 202 goals in 202 games during a 3-1 defeat of Athletic Bilbao, Luka Modric had his name chanted by all four sides of the ground and new boy Isco scored twice.
Off the peg: Madrid shirts with Bale's name and No 11 were available to buy before the deal was complete
BALE'S BEST SPURS MOMENTS
INTER MILAN 4 TOTTENHAM 3 - Champions League (October 20, 2010)
Spurs looked set to be humiliated when holders Inter raced into a 4-0 lead inside 35 minutes through goals from Javier Zanetti, a Samuel Eto'o penalty - after goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes had been sent off - Dejan Stankovic and Eto'o again.
But Bale almost completed a sensational comeback single-handedly, scoring one of the goals of the season before netting twice in the closing seconds to burst onto the world stage.
TOTTENHAM 2 LYON 1 - Europa League (February 14, 2013)
Bale took a leaf from Cristiano Ronaldo's book with a 40-yard free-kick that flew over the wall and then dipped before beating Lyon goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre low to his right. And the Wales international secured a vital first-leg win with another piece of magic to score a second free-kick deep into the second half. WEST HAM 2 TOTTENHAM 3 - Barclays Premier League (February 25, 2013)
Having put Spurs ahead with a low, driven finish early in the game, Bale looked set to be on the losing side as the Hammers hit back to take the lead. But despite being up-ended as Spurs chased a win following an equaliser, he picked himself up before rifling in an unstoppable shot with no time left on the clock for West Ham to respond. TOTTENHAM 2 NEWCASTLE 1 - Barclays Premier League (February 9, 2013)
After manager Andre Villas-Boas had talked up the similarities between Bale and Ronaldo during the week, Bale lived up to the hype with a 25-yard free-kick to open the scoring for the Londoners. And he then sealed the win with a superb break-away goal that ended with him slotting the ball between Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul's legs. SWANSEA 1 TOTTENHAM 2 - Barclays Premier League (March 30, 2013)
Bale was described as "world class" by Villas-Boas and "exceptional" by opposite number Michael Laudrup after scoring one, setting up the other and then making a vital block in stoppage time to secure victory over Swansea.
With seven minutes on the clock he produced a delicate chip into the path of Jan Vertonghen who controlled before opening the scoring, and on 21 minutes made it 2-0 with a stunning strike with the outside of his left foot into the top corner. After Swansea had pulled one back, Bale came to the rescue in the dying moments by throwing his body in the way of Nathan Dyer's goal-bound shot.
GARETH BALE TIMELINE
1989: Born July 16 in Cardiff.
2005: Joins Southampton as a trainee.
2006: April 17 - Aged 16 years and 275 days, becomes second youngest footballer to play for Southampton in 2-0 Championship win against Millwall.
May - Makes Wales Under-21 debut against Cyprus. Quickly promoted to the senior squad for a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago, coming off the bench to become Wales' youngest full international at 16 years and 315 days.
July 16 - Signs first professional contract with Southampton on his 17th birthday.
August 6 - Scores first goal for Saints with free-kick on opening day of the season in a 2-2 draw at Derby.
September 5 - Makes first start for Wales in 2-0 defeat to Brazil.
October 7 - Becomes Wales' youngest goalscorer with a trademark free-kick in a 5-1 defeat to Slovakia.
2007: January - Bale's agent says he is happy to stay at Southampton despite Manchester United and Tottenham reportedly bidding £10million for the player. Both clubs admit their interest.
May 25 - Joins Tottenham.
August 26 - Makes his first-team debut for Tottenham in a 1-0 defeat at Manchester United. September 1 - Scores first Tottenham goal in away draw at Fulham.
September 15 - Scores in his first north London derby against Arsenal.
December 2 - Injury against Birmingham rules him out for the rest of the season.
2009: June - Undergoes knee surgery, ruling him out for the start of the 2009-10 Premier League campaign.
September 26 - Bale tastes victory as a Premier League player for the first time in 25 attempts in the 5-0 defeat of Burnley.
2010: January 26 - Secures first victory as a Premier League starter at the 23rd time of asking. April - Scores in successive games against Arsenal and Chelsea to help Tottenham finish in the Premier League's top four. Named player of the month.
May - Signs new four-year deal for Tottenham.
August 25 - Sets up all four goals as Tottenham beat Young Boys 4-0 in the second leg of their Champions League qualifying game to progress to the group stages.
October 20 - Scores a scintillating hat-trick against Inter Milan at the San Siro. Named Welsh player of the year by the FAW.
November 2 - Produces man-of-the-match display as Tottenham beat Inter 3-1.
2011: January 28 - Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp rules out possibility of selling Bale, amid interest from Inter.
March 19 - Bale signs new four-and-a-half-year deal with Spurs.
April 17 - Named Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year.
2012: January - Named in the UEFA team of the year. Also named as Premier League player of the month for the second time.
June 27 - Signs new four-year contract with Spurs.
June 30 - Suffers a recurrence of an old back and hip injury after pulling up while running, ending his hopes of competing in the Olympics.
September 11 - Scores the first of his 29 goals in the season - a stunning free-kick for Wales against Serbia.
October 20 - Pulls out of Tottenham's game against Chelsea just before kick-off so he can attend the birth of his first child, Alba Violet Bale.
2013: February 7 - Manager Andre Villas-Boas admits Tottenham are likely to lose Bale in the summer unless they qualify for the Champions League.
February 25 - Scores a contender for goal of the season at West Ham - a stoppage-time winner from 30 yards.
April 27 - Villas-Boas says he has been told by Tottenham that Bale will stay if Spurs finish in the top four.
April 28 - Becomes only the third player to be voted senior and young Player of the Year at the PFA Awards.
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